Bustle



(Model.)

K. P. RIE.

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NITED STATES KENESS F. RICE, OF EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

BUSTLE.

ESPECIPCATION forming part of Lettera Patent No. 335,625, dated February 9, 1886.

Application led September 4, 1885. Serial No. 176,188. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, KENEss F. Bron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka Springs, in the county of Carroll and State of Arkansas, have invented a newand useful Improvementin Bustles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to improvements in bustles; and the novelty consists in the peculiar construction, combination, arrangement, and adaptation ofthe various parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

It is the especial object of my invention to provide a device of the character stated which shall yield or give when pressure or strain is exerted or forced thereon, thus insuring a greater degree of comfort to the wearer,which shall not be liable to breakage or displacement, which will automatically resume its normal position when strain or pressure thereon is released, and which shall combine simplicity, strength, and durability of construction with thorough effectiveness of operation, cheapness of manufacture, and non-liability to rust or corrode, and thus save the clothing ol' the wearer from objectionable stains.

I have shown an embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l isa plan view of my improved bustle. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the supporting rods and bands to one side of the middle ring of the bustle, showing said ring partly in section and elevation. Fig. 4 is a detached detail View showing the manner of connecting the supporting-rings with the elastic connectingstraps and sustainingwires.

- Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings, referring to which A designates :my improved bustle, which comprises a series of rings, B B', connected together by means of elastic flexible straps or bands C C and rods D D', the peculiar arrangement and construction of which I will now proceedto describe. The ring B is made larger or of greater diameter than its fellow rings, and is arranged at the middle thereof,

the series of rings B being arranged in a curved line or arc of a circle on each side of said middle ring, and each successive ringtoward either end of the device from the middle ring outwardly decreasing in size or diameter, and arrangedashort distance from each other and at different angles, similar to the radii of a circle. Each ring is made of an elastic non-corrosivesubstance-as, forinstance, rubber-and is arranged in a vertical position, and at a distance from and atan angle to each other, as above described, thus presenting a bustle Which as an entirety is curved longitudinally and tapered from its middle toward each end. This peculiar form is greatly preferred, and I therefore so construct the parts that they will assume this shape. The flexible elastic bands C IO are arranged at the front and rear sides of the elastic rings, and are connected together at the ends of the bustle by means of rivets c, or otherwise, one of said straps being extended to form waistbands as at F, adapted to secure the device to the waist of the wearer. The elastic bands C C are each secured or connected to the elastic rings B B by means of a staple or wire, Z1, the ends of which are passed through said band and the elastic ring, and the ends thereof bent or clinched to prevent the staple from working loose. The rods l) D are passed transversely through the elastic rings at one side thereof, preferably the inner, and one above the other, as shown, the ends of said rods being connected or spliced together beyond the outer ring at each end of the bustle, or terminating at said ring and suitably secured thereto in any preferable manner. If desired, the strap or band C may be passed through the ring B and the extended ends of the rodsD D,which form loops or guides for said band C', as shown.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be observed that when strain or pressure is exerted on the elastic rings and bands of the bustle they will yield and give, thus obviating the danger of breakage to the parts and insuring greater ease to the wearer.

The device may have a suitable covering or sheath, of cloth, textile fabric, or other suitable material, loosely secured thereto and free to permit the parts to expand and contract, and by reason of the parts being made of non-corn Sov IOO

rosive substances they will not rust, and thus save the clothing of the wearer from injury and stains, the rods D D being so arranged in rear of the band C that they will notcome in contact with the clothing.

My device is very Simple, strong, and durable in construction, automatically rights itself or returns to its normal position when pressure thereon is removed, under which it is free to yield or give in any direction. is cheap, can be easily and readily made, insures comfort and ease to the wearer to a much greater degree than devices of this character of ordinary construction, and can `be readily taken apart for repairs.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. As an improved article of manufacture, a bustle comprisinga series of graduated iieXible rings of rubberorlike material, the curved rods D D', passing through the body of the rings and connected at their ends beyond the end rings of the bustle, awaistband, C, passed through the connected ends of the rods and one or more of the bustle-rings, and a flexible strap, C', secured to the rear ends of the rings and the waistband- C, substantiallyT as described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture,

.abustle comprising a series of graduated flexible rings of rubber or like material, the curved rods D D', passed through the body of the rings at the front sides of said rings, said rods being connected at their ends, the waistband C, passed through the connected ends of the rods and one or more of the bustle-rings, a flexible band or strap, C', riveted at its ends to the waistband, and staples b to secure the strap C and rings together at the rear ends of the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. KEN ESS F. RICE.

Witnesses:

A. S. VANDEVENTER, J oHN GABRIEL. 

